Parties cash in on Sunday mood, star appeal for votes

Political parties tried to make the most of the last Sunday before the city goes to polls on April 10. While actor Anil Kapoor campaigned for the BJP candidate, Congress leaders went from door to door to seek votes and the Aam Aadmi Party held music shows at various places. Local leaders spread out in their wards to hold separate events.

With just two days left for campaigning, the political activity picked up pace. The attempt of the political parties was to reach out to as many voters as possible on a holiday and make a pitch for themselves. Road shows and padyatras started early in the morning. Messages were blared out on loudspeakers, seeking support for candidates.

It was actor Anil Kapoor who attracted much attention when he went out to campaign along with BJP candidate Kirron Kher. He attended a Muslim Sammelan at the residence of senior BJP leader Harmohan Dhawan and an event at the vegetable market in Sector 26. Apart from the duo, actor Anupam Kher campaigned at several places, seeking support for his wife. People gathered to get pictures clicked with the stars.

Asserting that Kirron was committed and would work for the city, Kapoor said he had come to support her as he believed in her. Apart from her, the only other actor he had campaigned for was the late Sunil Dutt, he added.

The Aam Aadmi Party, on its part, held music shows at several locations. VJ Raghu was in the city to campaign for party candidate Gulkirat Kaur Panag. Several artistes and bands performed in the shows. A truck carrying the equipment and singers visited several colonies where they made stops and sang patriotic songs. Votes were sought for Panag as amused colony dwellers looked on. In the evening, a show was held in Sector 34 where the bands got together.

The city unit of the Congress organised a cycle rally as well as meetings with different sections. The councillors of the party held door-to-door interactions in their wards to reach out to the voters. Party spokesperson Pardeep Chhabra said that around 20 programmes were held across the city with the aim of reaching out to every voter. He claimed that several sections of society announced support for the party’s candidate and incumbent MP Pawan Kumar Bansal.

BSP candidate Jannat Jahan also went door to door to meet voters. Canvassing for its candidate Kanwaljit Singh, the CPI(ML) held a road show which passed through several sectors in the city. see also page 2, 3